“We will Close Loopholes” New EPA Boss Says As He Takes Office

By: Laymah Kollie

Monrovia-February 20,2024: The newly appointed Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Urey Yarkpawolo has pledged his commitment to achieving accountability and transparency at the Institution. He stated that his administration will close loopholes currently existing in the systems of the EPA.

Taking office on Monday February 19,2024, Mr. Yarkpawolo stressed the need for self sufficiency at the entity. According to him, the intent of the action is to make EPA financially self-sufficient and raise revenues for the Environment Protection Agency.

“We will increase the revenues of the EPA by closing loopholes and enforcing the ESIA guidelines as well as other revenue generation capacities. The goal will be to make the EPA self-sufficient financially.
We will ensure open communication at the EPA.”

He added that the EPA is a regulatory body, as such, it should be an integrity institution.

“The EPA is a regulator and therefore, it should be an integrity institution. This means that people who work here should have a very high level of integrity. We will therefore employ mechanisms that will ensure a high level of work ethics including coming to work on time, leaving from work on time and tracking employees work activities to ensure proper accountability”.

 
He however mentioned the dismissal of some employees at the entity, stressing that he will set up an investigative body to review the problems being reported.

“The outgoing administration dismissed some employees, which seemed to be controversial. We will set up a small committee to investigate circumstances leading to the dismissal of employees. We will act on the committee’s findings and recommendations to ensure fairness, transparency and accountability”.

The EPA Executive Director also mentioned a full implementation of the Act establishing the EPA; nothing that a recommendation will be made to President Joseph Boakai to constitute a National Environmental Policy Council of the EPA.

“To ensure the full implementation of the Act creating the EPA, we will recommend to the President to constitute the National Environmental Policy Council and the EPA Board of directors. We will also ensure decentralization of the EPA both at the county and district levels”.

Dr. Yarkpawolo is a successor of former EPA boss Dr. Wilson K Tarpeh.

In 2023 Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo was selected to serve as running mate to renowned human rights  lawyer , Cllr, Tiawan Saye Gongloe when they ran as President and vice president on the ticket of the Liberian People’s Party coming out at #6 out of 20 political parties .